Eye muscle exercising apparatus



Feb. 11, 1941.

P. s. NEWTON 2,231,193

EYE MUSCLE EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 16, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l Z4 4/ z; I J7 I J9 3'5 f9 4 I i47 0 j/ 5f /4' j/ /F F'I. E E

m W 44 m. c A A5 I ATTORNEY.

Feb. 11, 1941. P. s. NEWTON EYE MUSCLE EXERCISING APPARATUS s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1938 INVENTOR.

' p 5 New 0/7 ATTORNEY.

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P/7//// BY W Feb. 11, 1941. Q p s. NEWTON 2,231,193

EYE MUSCLE EXERCISING APPARATUS INVENTOR. Ph/W/p 5. Ne 2 0/7 ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 11, 1941 UNITE STAT ATENT orrics 2,231,193 EYE MUSCLE EXERCISING APPARATUS Phillip S. Newton, Oakland, Calif. Application February 16, 1938, Serial No. 190,690 9 Claims. (01. 128-765) The invention relates to apparatus for orthop- Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan sectional view tic training and development of the extrinsic of the apparatus. eye muscles. Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic repre- An object of the present invention is to prosentations of various target movements provided 6 vide an eye muscle exercising apparatus of the by the present apparatus.

character described, having a pair of fixation Figure 7 is a front elevation of the target suptargets and means for providing separated mo porting stage. nocular vision of these targets and means for Figure 8 is a rear elevation of the stage. causing the movement of targets through pre- Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of the stage 10 determined paths for imparting desired motor taken substantially on the plane of line 9-5 of 10 nerve impulses to the eye muscles. Figure 8.

Another object of the invention is to provide Figure 10 is an end elevation of the stage as a controlled, smooth moving, target support and. indicated by the line Ill-i0 of Figure 8. drive means for progressively changing the spac- Figure 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view ing between the targets for producing a prisof the stage taken substantially on the plane of 15 matic stimulation of the eye muscles while the l ne H of Figure 8. targets themselves are caused to move through Figure 12 is a horizontal cross sectional view a closed rotary path. In accordance with the of the stage taken substantially on the plane of present construction the targets may be so arne O i u e 9.

2o ranged and regulated that they may be moved Figure 13 is an enlarged fra m n ary rear ele- 0 through smooth rhythmatic paths from the weak vation of one of the driving connections for the est prismatic position to the strongest prismatic targets.

position without causing a condition of diplopia ure 14 s a horizontal cross sectional view to take place and to alternately stress d of one of the control means taken substantially lieve certain of the extrinsic eye muscles to be On the plane of line i l-l4 of Figure 25 treated. Figure 15 is an enlarged rear elevation of the A further object of the invention is to provide Connection m ans of one of the targets to one an eye muscle exercising apparatus of the char- 0f the drive ns t e e oracter above, wherein the target paths may be The eye muscle exercising ppa us of the adjusted for combined exercise and stimulation present invention and as illustrated in the 9.0- 30 of the superior and inferior oblique extrinsic eye mp nyins drawings, consists r fly in a p ir muscles associated with the extrinsic recti of fixation points o targets o be Viewed y muscles while maintaining single binocular th e patient, means for providing monocular vision, vision of the targets to provide separate lines Still another object of the invention is to mo of sight thereon, and means for progressively di- 35 vide an apparatus of the character above, whereverging and converging said lines of sight and in the targets may be initially positioned and for otherwise displacing the samethrough a prethereafter caused to move through appropriate determined course of movement for producing paths for stimulating abduction, a'dduction, ina desired stimulation of the eye muscles. Pref- 40 fra-duction and supra-duction while maintainerably, the targets are initially adjusted later- 40 ing binocular vision and fusion or stereopsis. ally and vertically for compensating horizontal The invention possesses other objects and feaand vertical deficiencies in the extrinsic eye tures of advantage, some of which, with the muscles while in maintaining binocular vision. fo oin Wi be S t forth in e f w n o- In the preferred form of the invention the tarscription of the preferred form of the invengets are caused to move generally through rhyth- 5 tion which is illustrated in the drawings accOmmic rotary paths so as to not only impart the panying and forming part of the specification. desired motor nerve impulses to the eye muscles It is to be understood, however, that variations but also to establish over their proper paths the in the showing made by the said drawings and reciprocal enervations as well. Coupled with the description may be adopted within the scope of direct and reciprocal enervations caused by dis- 50 the invention as set forth in the claims. placing the lines of sight around rotary rhythmic Referring to said drawings: paths, the lines of sight are further caused to Figure l is a perspective view of an eye muscle diverge or converge so as to produce a desired exercising apparatus constructed in accordance prismatic stimulation of the eye muscles while with the present invention. i fusion or stereopsis is maintained. 55

The apparatus, as illustrated in Figure 1, comprises a casing or housing having movably mounted on the front thereof a stage I 2 supporting a pair of targets l3 and I4. The housing II is mounted on a base support l6 which has a forwardly extending arm I! and carries a binocular eye piece l8 and an adjustable chin rest IQ for the user. Mounted between the eye piece and stage, to insure monocular vision of each of the targets, is a septum 2| which is preferably universally supported at its ends and provided with an expansion joint to enable movement of the targets and stage relative to the eyepiece. The eyepiece I8 preferably includes a pair of base-out sphere-prisms and may be arranged for use with base-in prisms or with plus or minus lenses for stimulation or relaxation of ccommodation and convergence.

Preferably, the stage is supported by the casing H for movement through a rotary excursion, and is appropriately connected with drive and control means contained in the casing for driving the stage through such an excursion, and for adjusting the speed and amplitude of movement. As here shown, the stage is in the form of a rectangular plate of metal or the like, and is supported for movement relative to the casing by means of a pair of cranks 22 and 23 having drive shafts 24 and 26 journalled in bearings 21 and 28 provided on the front wall 29 of the casing. The outer crank ends are provided with stub shafts 3| and 32 which are journalled in a pair of bosses 33 and 34 provided on a mounting bracket 36 secured to the back of the plate I2. As will be understood, the use of a pair of cranks of the character described for supporting and mounting the front plate affords a rotary displacement of the plate while maintaining the same in upright position with the targets in parallel relation to all positions of the rotary excursion. Means for driving the target may include any suitable source of power appropriately connected to the drive shafts 24 and 26 for rotating the cranks in unison and in a common direction of rotation. As here shown, the shafts 24 and 26 are provided with gears 37 and 38 which mesh with a drive pinion 39 connected by shaft 4| to a suitable source of power such as an electric motor or the like not shown.

As above mentioned, means is preferably pro vided for controlling the amplitude of movement of the stage and, as here shown, such control is afforded by arranging the cranks 22 and 23 for adjustment of the spacing of the eccentric shafts 3| and 32 relative to the central drive shafts 24 and 26. As will be seen in Figure 2, each of thecranks is constructed of two pivoted sections including an inn-er section 42 secured to the shafts 24 and 26 and an outer section 43 secured to the shafts 3| and 32. The sections are pivotally joined by means of a shaft 44 whereby the section 43 may be rotated relative to the section 42 for positioning of the shafts 3| and 32 at various distances from the shafts 24 and 26. Preferably, the pivotal connection 44 is spaced equidistantly between the shafts 24 and 3| 32, so that the shafts 3| and 32 in coaxial alignment with the shafts 24 and 26 when no movement of the stage is desired. Means for displacing the section 43 relative to the section 42 for adjusting the throw of the cranks is here provided in the form of gears 46 and 41, the former being mounted on sleeves 48 surrounding shafts 24 and 26 and the latter being mounted on the pivot shaft 44. Mounted on may be positioned and shafts 26 and the inner ends of the sleeves 48 are gears 49 which are connected to an intermediate pinion mounted on a control shaft leading to an exterior portion of the casing not shown.

The general assembly so far described, including the stage and targets and movable support therefor, is of the general design disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,091,173 to Wottring. This latter patent discloses in detail a drive and supporting means for the stage, including means for adjusting the speed and amplitude of movement of the stage, means for controlling the luminosity of the targets, means for starting and stopping and reversing the stage movement, and other features which may be used in connection with the present device.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide, in combination with an apparatus of the type described, means for uniformly and progressively diverging or converging the monocular lines of sight during the rotary or other excursion of the stage, so as to produce a prismatic stimulation of the extrinsic eye muscles from a weak to a strong prismatic strength without causing diplopia. This divergence and convergence of the lines of sight is preferably effected along horizontal or oblique linear paths so that the actual or apparent movement of the targets is a combined rotary and linear displacement. As will be understood, the divergence or convergence of the lines of sight may be effected optically by means of suitable prisms or other optical devices, or by displacing the targets themselves. In the preferred form of the invention, as here illustrated, the latter means is used, and the targets are mounted for movement relative to the stage and are driven during the rotary excursion of the stage to progressively change the spacing between the targets, either horizontally or obliquely. vThis change in spacing of the targets is preferably effected slowly and progressively during movement of the stage, so that the movement of the targets is scarcely detectable or noticed by the eyes until the act of diplopia takes place. In this manner, much greater prismatic stimulation may be produced than under a more rapid or less uniform change in spacing between the targets. Also in this regard, the attraction of the eyes around substantially closed rhythmic rotary paths greatly facilitates the change in spacing of the targets without loss of fusion or stereopsis.

In accordance with the present construction, the targets l3 and M are mounted on the front plate l2 for transverse reciprocation across the plate and preferably displaced by a suitable driving connection connected to the driving connection for the stage so that the change in spacing betweenthe targets may be positively and uniformly effected simultaneously with the rotary excursion ofthe stage. As here shown, the targets comprise a vehicle or carrier frame 5| which extends vertically across the face of the plate l2, around the top and bottom edges 52 and 53 thereof to the rear side of the plate so as to securely hold the targets against removal from the plate and, at the same time, permit transverse or horizontal movement of the targets on the plate. In order to facilitate transverse displacement of the targets on the plate, the rear upper ends 52 and 53 of the target carrier frames are connected to slide blocks 54 and 56 which are preferably engaged with guide strips 51 and 58 at the rear sideof the plate l2, the strips being here formed with longitudinal grooves for re- 76 ceipt of interfitting portions on the slide blocks. In the present device the targets are displaced by means of a drive cable 5?) which is carried on the rear side of the plate around acable drum 6| mounted adjacent one end 62 of the plate, andextends from the drum overrollers 63 and 66 adjacent and above the drum 6| transversely across the plate into substantially parallel legs 65 and iii to adjacent the opposite end 68 of the plate where the cable is supported by a sheave 69. The legs 66 and 61 of the cable pass through parallel grooves II and T2 in the slide block 54 and grooves I3 and 14 in the slide block 56. Means is preferably carried by each of the slide blocks 5t and 55 for detachably connecting the same to the cable and, as here shown, the block Ed is provided with a cam lock in the form of a roller it adjacent the groove 12, and which is provided with an eccentric groove TI over a part of this circumference which may be moved into registration with the groove I2 to permit free passage of the cable leg 67 through the groove 'IZ/ The size and positioning of the roller I6 is such, however, that upon the rotation of the same to remove the groove 'I'I out of registration with the groove l2,'a portion of the periphery of the roller will bind the cord against one side of the groove I? so as to lock the slide block 54 to the cable leg 6i. The cam roller 16 is preferably provided with a laterally extending arm I8 which extends vertically through a cutout portion 19 in the block to permit manual engagement and displacement thereof above the top 52 of the plate. A similar cam locking means 8I is provided on the slide block 56 in association with the groove It for releasably locking the block to the cable leg 66. Preferably, the guide members 5! and 58 are suitably arranged adjacent their opposite ends to 40 prevent longitudinal movement of the slide blocks 54 and 56 therefrom. This may be effected by the provision of any suitable stop means at the ends of the members 5? and 58, such as here shown by closing the ends of the guide grooves provided by the members. Preferably, the ends of the cable are suitably fixed to the drum 6i, such as here shown by means of a pin 8! so as to cause a positive movement of the cable with the drum.

In accordance with the above arrange-ment of the targets and drive therefor, the movement of the targets is effected by a slow reciprocal oscillation of the drum Iii during the movement of the stage so as to cause a corresponding slow reciprocal movement of the cable legs 66 and 61 and the targets connected thereto. As aforementioned, the drive for the targets is obtained from the drive for the stage and as here shown, one of the outer crank shafts 32 is provided with a pinion 82 which meshes with a gear 83 carried on the rear side of the plate I2, whereby upon rotation of the crank 23 a relative rotation of the gear 83 and the stage will be established. The gear 83 meshes with an idler gear 84 which is in turn meshed with a pitman gear 86 for driving the cable drum. The connection between the gear 83 and the drum is here effected by means of a link 81 pivoted eccentrically at one end 88 to the cable drum adjacent the periphery thereof and being similarly pivoted eccentrically at its opposite end 89 to the gear 86, whereby rotation of the latter will cause a reciprocal oscillation of the drum.

As an important feature of the present invention, means is provided for controlling the amand inferior oblique extrinsic eye muscles.

target vehicle or carrier EL plitude of movement of the targets relative to the stage, so that any degree of prismatic stimulation may be effected. The adjustment of the target movement is here provided by means of an adjustment of the eccentricity of the pivoted end 89 of the link relative to the gear 86. In the present structure, the link end 89 is pivoted to an eccentric 9|, as by means of a pinsc, carried by the gear 86 and which is provided with a mounting shaft 92 journalled in the gear and extending therethrough to the front side of the plate I2. Preferably, the gear itself is provided with an enlarged hub portion 93 which extends through the plate and is journalled in bearing ring 94 in the plate and the eccentric shaft 92 is extended through the hubportion 53. As will be seen from Figure 8, the axis of the shaft 92 may be arranged equidistantly from the pivotal point 9B of the link end 89 and the axis of rotation of the gear 86, so that upon rotation of the eccentric 9I the pivot may be moved from a position in coaxial alignment with the axis of the gear to a rotated position substantially therefrom with the pivot in its greatest eccentric position on the gear. In the first mentioned position it will be understood that no relative movement of the cable drum will be effected upon rotation of the gear 86, whereas in the last mentioned position a maximum displacement of the cable drum will be effected. Between these two rotated positions of the eccentric substantially any desired movement of the cable drum and the targets may be provided. Preferably, a manual control knob 93 is provided on the outer end of the shaft 92 for indicating the position of the eccentric 9i relative to the gear 86. If desired and as here shown, releasable lock means may be provided between the knob 5 and the front exposed surface QI of the gear hub as, such as a spring pressed ball 98 carried by the knob and which is engageable in a plurality of circular spaced sockets 99 on the hub surface 91. Preferably, the sockets 559 are arranged around substantially 180 relative to the axis of the knob so as to afford a complete adjustment of the throw of the eccentric.

It will now be understood that upon setting of the eccentric 9| at some position of eccentricity to the gear 86, a reciprocal movement of the cable drum will be elfected during the rotary excursion of the stage, so as to slowly anduniformly and progressively increase and decrease the target spacing during such excursion. In accordance with the present invention and as a further important feature thereof, I provide for the widening or narrowing of the target spacing along controlled linear paths either horizontally or obliquely to the stage so that special exercises may be used for both the recti as well as the superior This is here effected by the use of a pair of tracks IIII and W2 which are pivoted to the front side of the plate I2 as by means of a hub portion I03 which is extended through an opening I04 in the plate and the rear side thereof is held in adjusted rotated position by means of a spring I08 compressed between a friction washer I01 and a nut I08 carried by the rear end of the portion I03. The forward face of each of the tracks IOI and I02 is provided with a longitudinal guide groove I09 which is arranged to receive a lug portion III of an outer movable target 'member II2, the lug III being here extended slot H3 in the rear In this manner the through a vertical elongated tracks l0! and I02 may be adjusted about their pivotal connection to the frame, so as to arrange the longitudinal tracks I09 at any desired incline relative to the plate l2, and upon traverse movement of the targets across the plate the targets will follow the linear path defined by the grooves I09. Preferably, the target member H2 is arranged to removably carry various target images for attracting the eye and as here shown, the upper and lower ends H4 and H6 of the member are folded to define a pair of transverse tracks for receipt of cards or other indicia bearing members. The tracks H and I02 may also be used to initially adjust the vertical position of the targets on the stage when the latter are not positioned directly over the axis of rotation of the tracks, by properly rotating the tracks. Preferably, the target members 5| are provided with a vertical calibrated scale for indicating vertical imbalances of the eyes, the numerical values of the scale being readable at the upper and lower ends I I4 and N6 of the target member H2. Similarly, scales Ill and H8 are preferably provided along the upper edge of the stage [2 for cooperating with pointers H9 and l2l carried by the target members 5| for indicating horizontal imbalances of the eyes.

The operation of the present apparatus as set forth above, may be summarized as follows: The patient is first carefully examined to determine imbalances existing in the extrinsic eye muscles and the amount of such imbalances. From such tests appropriate exercises for the various extrinsic eye muscles are determined and the apparatus adjusted accordingly. Normally, some rotary excursion of the stage is desirable and the amplitude of such excursion may be set by adjusting the eccentricity of the cranks 22 and 23. Likewise, the speed of the rotary excursion may also be adjusted by a suitable speed governor or rheostat or the like, such as described in the Wottring patent above referred to. The degree of prismatic stimulation desired is then adjusted by setting the knob 96 to cause a progressive change in spacing of the targets during the aforesaid rotary excursion of the stage. Initially, the targets may be set at any position relative to the horizontal scales II! or IIB by moving arms 18 to release the targets from the cable drive therefor. The targets may then be caused to move progressively inwardly or outwardly from an initially set position by merely moving the arms 18 to connect the targets to the cable drive at the proper position of the cable drum. This may be readily determined by leaving the targets connected to the cable and moving the same to their end position, and then disconnecting the targets from the cable and moving them to any desired initial position. After the amplitude of rotary excursion has been adjusted and the amplitude of prismatic separation of the targets has been set, the tracks I09 may be adjusted to cause the targets to move relative to the stage along linear paths either horizontally or obliquely disposed relative to the stage. When both the rotary excursion and prismatic movements are used, the targets will follow a locus defined by the combined rotary and linear displacements. Two such target movements have been illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. In Figure 3 the tracks are set horizontally relative to the stage and the targets move along cycloidal paths away from each other, as indicated in dotted lines, and by the successive positions of the circles A, B and C. After the targets have thus separated by a predetermined distance determined by the adjustment of the knob 96, the targets will move inwardly through the complimentary cycloidal paths to the initial position indicated at A. In Figure 4, the locus of the targets has been illustrated where the tracks are set in inclined position. As here shown, the targets again move through cycloidal paths generated by the rotary movement of the stage and the linear displacement along the tracks indl cated by lines I22 and I 23. In this figure the successive positions of the targets are illustrated by circles A, B, C and D, and as in the case above described, the targets will separate to an end position of separation and then return to an initial position. The two target movements illus trated in Figures 3 and 4 are given for the purposes of illustration, it being obvious that substantially any combination of linear and rotary movement is possible by proper adjustment of the apparatus. Also it is possible with my apparatus to produce a pure rotary excursion of the stage and targets without any prismatic movement, by merely setting the knob 96 to position the axis of pivot 90 in alignment with the axis of gear 86, as described in the foregoing. Also, the apparatus may be adjusted to produce a simple prismatic stimulation without any rotary displacement of the targets by adjusting the cranks 22 and 23 to a zero position of rotation and setting the knob 96 on any desired prismatic movement of the targets. Two such movements are shown in Figures 5 and 6, the movement in Figure 5 representing a pure linear movement with the tracks set in horizontal position and the movement in Figure 6 with the tracks in oblique positions.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for exercising the extrinsic eye muscles comprising, a fixed casing, a pair of movable crank arms carried by said casing, a stage connected to said crank arms and movable therewith, a pair of targets supported by and movable on said stage, means providing monocular vision of said targets, drive means for displacing said crank arms through a predetermined movement, and drive means carried by said stage and connected to said crank arms for progressively changing the spacing between said targets during said movement along lines changing the convergence and divergence of the monocular lines of sight provided by said first means.

2. An apparatus for exercising the extrinsic eye muscles comprising, a fixed casing, a pair of crank arms adapted to be moved in a predetermined path, a stage carried by and movable with said arms, a pair of targets supported by and movable on said stage, means providing monocular vision of said targets, drive mechanism for displacing said arms and stage through said predetermined path, and a gear train connected to one of said crank arms and to said targets for progressively changing the spacing of said targets during the course of said movement along lines changing the convergence of the monocular lines of sight provided by said first means.

3. An apparatus for exercising the extrinsic eye muscles comprising, a stage, a-pair of targets movably supported on said stage, means providing monocular vision of said targets, means for moving said stage through a closed rotary path, means for simultaneously displacing said targets relative to said stage, tracks carried by said stage and engaged with said targets for confining the movement of said targets relative to said stage along linear paths, said tracks being mounted on said stage to permit change of inclination of said tracks relative to a horizontal position thereof on said stage.

4. An apparatus for exercising the extrinsic eye muscles comprising, a fixed casing, a crank arm carried by said casing, a stage carried by and movable with said arm, a pair of targets movably supported by said stage, means providing monocular vision of said targets, drive means carried by said casing for displacing said arm and stage through a closed rotary path, a crank rotatably carried by said stage, and means connected to said drive means and crank for imparting a rotary motion to the latter, said crank being connected to said targets for progressively changing the spacing between said targets on said stage during said movement.

5. An apparatus for exercising the extrinsic eye muscles comprising, a fixed casing, a stage, a pair of targets movably supported by said stage, means providing monocular vision of said targets, a crank rotatably carried by said body and connected to said stage for displacing said stage through a closed rotary path, a second crank carried by said stage, and means carried by said stage and connected to said first and second cranks to rotate said second crank from the motion of said first crank, said second crank being connected to said targets for progressively changing the spacing between said targets during said movement, and said second crank having an adjustable throw for regulating the amount of change in spacing of said targets during said movement.

6. An apparatus for exercising the extrinsic eye muscles comprising, a support, a relatively movable front plate, drive means, an eccentric driven by said means and connected to said plate for displacing the latter through a rotary path, a crank carried by said plate and geared to said eccentric, a pair of targets movably carried by said plate, means for producing monocular vision of said targets, and drive means connecting ,said ,cranlc and targets' for progressively changing the spacing of the latter during movement through said path with said plate.

7. An apparatus for exercising the extrinsic eye muscles comprising, a relatively movable front plate, drive means, an eccentric driven by said means and connected to saidplate for dis placing the latter through a rotary path, a crank carried by said plate and geared to said eccentric, a pair of targets movably carried by said plate, means for producing monocular vision of said targets, drive means connecting said crank and targets for progressively changing the spacing of the latter during movement through said path with said plate and means for detachably connecting said targets with said last named drive means.

8. An apparatus for exercising the extrinsic eye muscles comprising, a support, a relatively movable front plate, drive means, an eccentric driven by said means and connected to said plate for displacing the latter through a rotary path,- a crank carried by said plate and geared to said eccentric, a pair of targets movably carried by said plate, means for producing monocular vision of said targets, a drum carried by said plate and oscillated by said crank, a cable driven by said drum, and means carried by said targets for detachably connecting the same to said cable.

9. An apparatus for exercising the extrinsic eye muscles comprising, a support, a. relatively movable front plate, drive means, an eccentric driven by said means and connected to said plate for displacing the latter through a rotary path,

a crank carried by said plate and geared to said eccentric, a pair of targets movably carried by said plate, means for producing monocular vision of said targets, a drum carried by said plate and oscillated by said crank, a cable driven by said drum, means carried by said targets for detachably connecting the same to said cable, and means engageable in the front of said plate for adjusting the throw of said crank.

PHILLIP S. NEWTON.

ill 

